Polyrhachis cyaniventris

Name: Polyrhachis cyaniventris
Origin: Southeast Asia (including the Malay Peninsula, Borneo, Sumatra, Philippines)
Queen: approx. 9 – 11 mm
Workers: approx. 8 – 10 mm, with a strikingly blue-metallic shimmering gaster
Food: Carbohydrates (sugar water, honey, fruit juice), proteins (feeder insects)
Humidity:
Arena: 40 – 60%
Nest: 40 – 65% with a more humid zone to choose from
Temperature:
Nest during the active season: 22 – 28 degrees
Winter Dormancy: No
Nest Type: Arboreal – nests in existing cavities in deadwood and branches
Colony Size: modest, approx. 500 – 1,500 workers

Advantages and Disadvantages of Polyrhachis cyaniventris:

Advantages:
Polyrhachis cyaniventris impresses with its striking, blue-shimmering coloration and interesting arboreal (tree-dwelling) behavior combined with a manageable colony size.

Disadvantages:
Growth is steady but rather slow – reaching a few hundred workers usually takes 1 – 2 years. As an arboreal species, it prefers deadwood nests over classic earth nests.

Care:
Test tube nest or deadwood nest with good ventilation. Offer a more humid zone in the nest so the colony can choose the optimal area for itself.

Feeding:
Offer sugar water, honey, or fruit juice as well as regular feeder insects.